Loading...Today's Collect: Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
My Quote for Casady High School Senior Yearbook Photo: I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world, this is the end of life. — Martin Luther King, JR. (born January 15, 1929)
As described in our collect for today he is ‘illumined’ by God’s word and sacraments and shines as someone who can unify diverse people. Are there people who make you believe there is a God and that God is worth standing up for? Martin Luther King, Jr is one of those people for me. Jesus is that person for John the Baptist.
Did the reading from John’s gospel remind you of the Passover story as told in the book of Exodus? John’s gospel reminds me of the Passover story as told in the book of Exodus: Of the night that God told Moses to tell all the Hebrews enslaved by Pharaoh in Egypt to take a lamb and sacrifice it and wipe its blood on the doorposts and lintel of their homes. The purpose of the lamb’s blood was to signal the angel of death to pass over the home and not come in and kill the first born in inside.
The purpose of the angel of death killing everyone was a plague designed by God to signal Pharaoh that there is only one God and that God’s people are designed to be free, and not designed to be slaves of Pharaoh. All throughout Egypt every first born, including cattle and even Pharaoh’s own son all died because they did not have any lamb’s blood protecting them from death. After this plague Pharaoh repents of his oppressive enslavement and frees the Hebrews (of course then he repents of his repentance and chases the Hebrews but that is a different story.)
o when we read the bit from John’s Gospel where John the Baptist looks at Jesus on the sidewalk and proclaims Jesus “the Lamb of God”, we are reading the job description of someone who makes people believe there is a God and that God is worth standing up for.
When I hear “Lamb of God” I think of that tiny lamb with it’s throat oozing blood I begin looking out for slaves, and a Pharaoh, and for blood. My hunch is Andrew and Simon were looking out for those things too, because when they hear John they follow Jesus. And Jesus indeed leads Andrew and Simon from slavery and oppression and sacrifice to freedom, the disruption of oppressive power, and new life.
I wonder if Jesus knew John’s nickname for him? “Lamb of God” is a heavy crown to wear. It will become the description fulfilling the consummation of all God’s plans and purposes for creation in the book of Revelation. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes Rev 7:17.
Jesus bears that crown, sheds his blood, protects the world from sin, disrupts the power of death and makes it unnecessary for anymore lamb’s blood to be shed. Death passes over everyone because Jesus shed his blood for everyone on the cross. You, and I mean you, are stained and you can’t get clean from the blood of the Lamb shed for the sake of Love. That stain is exciting to me.
I can pick up excitement in John’s voice too — like a fan sighting their celebrity crush.
I want to describe a celebrity to you who I love with all my heart. She makes me believe in God and that God is worth standing up for. I consider her to be a close friend, although we have never met. She inspires me with every aspect of her life. Like Jesus, she has taken the best of her life and given it to the entire world. Four million people a year come to visit the landmark experience she has created based on her birth, upbringing, career and what you and I call ministry but what wikipedia calls “humanitarianism”.
Like Martin Luther King, Jr. she unifies diverse people. Today is Dolly Parton’s Birthday.
For those of you who don’t know who Dolly Parton is — you’re about to. She is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Parton
Her songs have had more influence on me than any preacher. The way I feel about Dolly Parton is the way John the Baptist feels about Jesus. Everything Jesus does is saving grace, for John the Baptist and for the entire world. Like Jesus, Dolly is not everyone’s cup of tea but everyone appreciates her and undeniable grace. 
For a handful of enterprising fishermen Jesus becomes the way to the Golden Streets of Glory (Dolly’s gospel album released in 1971). And for this middle aged city lady The Golden Streets of Glory are where I can connect with country fisherman.
By virtue of showing up here today you qualify as ‘illumined’ by God’s word and sacraments. You are the person who makes others believe in God and that God is worth standing up for. You don’t have to be a famous activist or celebrity song writer, but you are you and God believes you are worth dying for.
The communion God illumines us with today is the best Jesus has to give to the entire world. It’s ours to share. You may not get to march on Washington or produce over 3,000 recordings. But you and I both have the same faith as Martin Luther King, Jr. Dolly Parton, John the Baptist and Andrew and Simon Peter.
Shine your talents, whatever they may, be for the purpose of showing how much God loves God’s people. God’s love stands up for us when we face adversity, oppression, and death. Whether we know her song or not, Dolly’s words from the Master’s Hands ring as true as any High School Yearbook Quote:
The master’s hand is always held out to us
And it will lead us to the Promised Land
And the evil of this world cannot outdo us
If we are holding to the Master’s hand.
Amen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Streets_of_Glory
For more about the ever-relevant Dolly parton listen to
https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america
P.S. I will always love you Dolly and Happy Birthday!
